Overview

• China's Civil Aviation Administration announced changes to civil aviation routes near the Taiwan Strait median line, expected to 'squeeze' the airspace controlled by Taipei.
• The changes, which will take effect on Thursday, were announced without consultation with Taiwan, leading to protests from Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration.
• The move is expected to cut the depth of air defense for Taiwan and reduce the response time available to the island's air force in case of a cross-strait attack.
• Analysts suggest that the move is a response to the recent election of Vice-President William Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party as Taiwan's next leader, seen by Beijing as an 'obstinate separatist'.
• Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council condemned the move as a 'blatant neglect of aviation safety and a show of disrespect for Taiwan', suggesting it could alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.